Pneumatic motive power



(N0 Medel.)

4 Sheet's.Sheet l. L. H. MAYER. PNEUMATIC MOTIVE POWER.

A INVENTO/Y ATTUHIVE).

WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 4 heetsSheet 2.

L. H. MAYER. PNEUMATIC MOTIVE POWER.

No. 590,686. Patented Sept. 28,1897.

W/ TNE SSE S ATTORNEY.

3 a e h S "P m e h S 4 R E w 0 RP n m M IHU H A LM U E N P (Nq Model.)

No. 590,686. Patented Sept. 28, 1897.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Patented Sept. 28, 1897.

L.H.MAYER. PNEUMATIC MOTIVE POWER.

(No Model.)

TH: nonms PETERS co, woYo-uwo. wasmunros. a. c

N'rrn STATES.

ATENT Fries.

LOUIS H. MAYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATIC MOTIVE POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,686, datedSeptember 28, 1897. Application filedOctober 4,1395. Serial No. 564,606.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS H. MAYER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPneumatic Motive Power; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to pneumatic power; and it consists of means forapplication thereof to actuate any description of machinery to which itis connected by suitable gearing.

In carrying out my invention I provide an endless tube Within which is apiston having disk-heads the periphery of which conform to the innersurface of the tube, which piston is caused to travel continuouslywithin the tube by action of exhaust of air from said tube, the movementof the disk-headed piston imparting action to gearing outside of thetube, all in manner and form as hereinafter fully described, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters andnumerals of reference point out similar parts on each view, Figure 1 isa top plan view of an annulartube, parts being broken away, showing thepiston connected to movable gearing and air-d ucts opening into thetube. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line a: 00 of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the tube, showing asection-gate closed therein and mechanism for reciprocating said gatetransversely within and without the tube, also portion of exhaust-pipewith an inlet-opening into the main tube. Fig. 4 is a sectional view ofthe tube and piston and its connection with gear, also colter and barfor operating the slot-valve gates and valves of exhaust-tube. Fig. 5represents sectional Views of themain tube and slot-closing gates- Fig.6 is a sectional View of gates for closing the tube in sections actuatedby pneumatic power. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the piston, showingextension for connection to gear-wheel, the colter for actuating'theslot-valves, and a device for opening and closing the air-duct pipes.Fig.

8 is a detail view ofa slot-closing gate. Fig. 9 is a top plan view ofthe annular tube provided with closing-gate shown in Fig. (3, actuatedby pneumatic power.

tinuous annular tube on a horizontal plane and a vertical main shaft,but do not confine my invention theret0,.as the tube may be obangle,having interior traveling disk-headed piston actuated by motive power,presently set forth, to impart motion to the shaft of mechanismextending in any desired direction.

In the drawings, A- is a tube to which are connected exhaust-pipesI-I'II, each having inlets opening into the main conduit-tube, a slightdistance forward of a section-closing gate E, which is operated in amanner presently set forth. The tube A has a continuous slot a, which isopened and closed by valve-gates L, operated by a curved colter R,extending from a grip-arm N, which is permanently connected to thepiston P, as plainly illustrated in the drawings.

The valve-gates L each have outwardly-extending friction-wheels 1 2, oneabove the other. As the bent colteris moved and strikes the upper wheel1 it lifts a valve-gate and opens the slot at. As said colter progresseson ward its invertedly-curved end by bearing upon the lower wheel 2forces the valve-gate downward-and closes the tube-slot, this actuationof the slot-closing valve-gates progressing continuously as the pistonis caused to movewithin the main tube.

I deem the'described means of opening and closing the tube-slot asexceedingly novel and useful, obviating employment of springpressureand-gravitation, my improvement outwardly at any desired angle andforcing it within the tube-slot whether said slot is at top, side, orany point of the tube.

Besides the described device for moving the valve-gates they are soconstructed that they will always move reciprocatingl y at right anglesof the slot to without any risk of displacement or movement except in adirect line. To carry out this purpose, the valvegates at their oppositesides for a given distance of their length are tongucd and grooved,

In the drawings I have illustrated a conbeing adapted for moving theslot-valve gate long or adjusted vertically or at anydesired as shown ati, while above said tongues and grooves each valve-gate is cut away,thus reducing its width at the upper section thereof, thus forming anintermediate open space d between each two juxtaposing valve-gates. Inconnection therewith a back plate a uprises from the main tube, to whichplate is fastened by short screw-rods a a clamp guideplate a each sideof which overlies the edges of the respective adjacent slot-valves, atup per section thereof, the purpose being to maintain said valve-gatesin perfect aliuement when projected within and without the slot a and tolimit their outward passage therefrom.

As I do not limit practical operation of my invention to placing thetube-slot at any point of its circumference, various modified forms ofvalve-gates may be employed without departing from the scope and purviewof my invention.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the preferred form, whereby perfectmovement and closure is secured as the lower end of the valve-gateengages afiange a extending outwardly from the main tube, which limitsthe inward movement of each valve-gate, its outward movement beingarrested by clamp guide-plate a as previously set forth. In this formthe interior of the tube has a continuous lengthwise groove a into whichpasses a rider 1), extending outwardly from periphery of the disk-headof the piston, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

In the other sectional view Fig. 5 is illustrated a form ofvalve-closing gate wherein its lower end when falling within thetubeslot closes the tube and its interior is maintained in a perfectspherical form, the lengthwise groove a and flange a", as shown in othersectional view of Fig. 5, being omitted. Either construction illustratedmay be employed in practice of my invention, but, as before set forth,the flange a for limiting movement of the valve-gate L is preferable.

The grip-arm N, connected to the piston, extends outwardly through theslot of the tube and at its outer end is fastened to periphery of a maingear-wheel C, which transmits action to wheel C and turns smaller wheel(3 which by engagement with teeth of wheel D on shaft B will turn saidshaft and actuate suitable mechanism connected therewith, said gearingbeing shown on a uniform plane, and by action thereof will turn theshaft B in direction illustrated by arrows on Fig. 1.

Bis another gear-wheel, which in practice is elevated above the plane ofthe connected gear, hereinbefore described, but by suitable means may belowered down on its axle b and brought into engagement with teeth ofshaftwheel D and by the same action lower the small gear-wheel C on itsaxle 0, whereby, as will be readily understood, reverse rotation will beimparted to the shaft B, no special mechanism being shown or claimed forvertical movement of said wheels 13 and C for connection anddisengagement with shaftwheel D, the teeth of which are of sul'liciei'itbreadth and thickness to be brought into engagement with either of thedescribed gears.

The tube A has closing-gates E, which are provided with means, whenactuated, to slide them transversely within and without the tube and asrequired to prevent a continuous passage of exhaust of air the fulllength of the tube.

I show only two closing-gates in the drawings, but more may be used toincrease force, especially on pneumatic tubes extending along a route,for, as before set forth, although confining description of my inventionto an annular tube I do not limit practical application thereto, for itis equally adaptable for employment on pneumatic tubes of any lengthwhich by use of the gates E can be opened and closed into sections ofrequired length at predetermined times by action of a moving piston P.

The gates E are shown in Fig. 2, the one to the left being projectedwithin the tube, and the opposite one forced outwardly therefrom,whereby the exhaust of air will be arrested by the closed gate, but willfreely pass the point where the gate is withdrawn from the tube.

Extending outwardly from the tube are gate-boxes E, within which thegates will reciprocate when actuated.

In the drawings each gate on Figs. 1 and 2 is illustrated as providedwith rearward compressible and resilient springs F, which act inconjunction with other power applied to move the gates E to and frowithin and without their boxes E and the tube. Said springs are not,however, indispensable, as various means may be employed to operate saidgates.

The gates E, of the form illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, that, ashereinbefore set forth, open and close the tube into sections, areforced into the tube A by pressure of the spring F at rear end of thebox E. Sectional views of said gates are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Theyare moved outwardly from the tube A into box E as the piston traverseswithin the tube, when the lower turned end of the arm M strikes the diskon at outer end of arm m, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) and as said arm, which isconnected to the piston as hereinbefore described and illustrated,passes beyond the location of the gate E said gate is immediatelyprojected by pressure of spring F into the tube A.

In Fig. 6 I illustrate the preferred form of operating the gates bypneumatic force introduced within the gate-box by opening a valve, inconnection with which motive power springs F may be employed, ifdesired. In said figure the gate-box E has connected thereto branchpipes h It, extending from pipes H 11, provided with independentclosing-valves 77.3, by which admission and exclusion of pneumatic forceis controlled. In this form the gate-box E has a rearward chamber eofsmaller dimension than the forward chamber 6. The section-gate E isshown as projected within the tube A. At rear end of said gate is animperforate plate E from which extends a piston-rod E The gatebox isseparated by partition 6 dividing it into two chambers e e, in theforward one of which the gate E can move forwardly to and within thetube and rearwardly up to the partition 6 against which the plate E willrest when brought into contact therewith. The piston-rod E extends in aright line from plate E to which it is permanently attached, and passesthrough apertnred stuffing-box e at center of partition 6 from which itextends to a head-plate a to which it is permanently connected by anut-bolt e Said head-plate fits into the rear chamber 6 of the gate-box,its periphery being supplied with a suitable yielding cover that willenable it to pass to and fro within said chamber and maintain ithermetically closed around said periphery during movement ofthehead-plate therein. hen the valves h are opened, exhaust of air willensue within the chamber 6 and draw the head-plate rearwardly, asindicated by arrow at upper side of the incasement, and through pistonconnected to said plate and to plate E withdraw the gate from the tube.Reverse action is accomplished by closure of valve 77, and whereby theexhaust operates on the forward surface of head-plate e to draw itforwardly in direction of the arrow at the lower part of theincasementchamber, the opening and closing of said valve being effectedby arm M, extending from gripper N, as said arm progresses onward inconnection with bars extending outside of the tube of the samecharacter, as hereinafter described, for operating valves of the pipesH.

In Fig. 9 I have fully illustrated means for opening and closing theair-ducts. The'arm M, carried onward by the piston, to which it isconnected, will strike valve-disk m of pipe H and close valve h, therebyclosing the exhaust of air from the tube A. As the arm progresses anddisk m is released from pressure of said arm the disk m will spring backinto position shown in Fig. 9. and the pipe H will be reopened, so thatthere will be exhaust of air from section of the tube A rearwardly ofnext adjacent closing-gate E. This action of opening and closing theexhaustducts connected to the main tube A can be employed whatever formof section-closing gate is employed.

As projection of the section-gates E within the tube A and withdrawaltherefrom rearwardly into gate-box E, of the construction shown in Fig.6, is preferably done by pneumatic power, the method-and means ofactuation of said gates are shown in Fig. 9. A pipe 7L is connected tothe pipe H and has branches 72.2 opening into gate-box E, one forward ofheadplate a and one rearwardly thereof. Said branch pipe h is providedwith valves 7L3. Extending toward the main tube A from the forward valve7b3 is a rod it", having at its terminal end a disk 017. which ismaintained in the position shown in Fig. 9 by coiled spring h". The rod7L has branches 7L5 pivotally extending therefrom and rearwardlyconnected to the rearward valve 7L3 of pipe h. As the arm M progressesin the manner and by the means hereinbefore described it will strike thedisk m, carrying the rod 71 with it, closing the forward valve h andopening the rearward one, whereby air-exhaust will progress rearwardlyand draw out the gate E from the main tube A. After the arm and thepiston have passed beyond the line on which the gate E is moved to andfro the disk on will spring back into position shown in Fig. 9, closingthe rear valve h and opening the forward one, whereby the gate willreturn into the main tube and close the respective section, so thatexhaust of air will be in front of the forward head of the piston P.

The gates E, of the form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, are operated byarm M, which is connected ,to grip-bar N, and said arm also as thepiston passes onward is brought in contact with plate at at end of bar mand moves said bar forwardly, thereby closing valve h of pipe H. (Seedotted lines, Fig.1.) The bar m, provided at its end with plate m, has abranch arm 0 extending outwardly at right angles therefrom, to which ispivotally connected another short arm 0, connected to valve h, and asthe plate at at end of bar m is moved onwardl y by pressure of the armM, extending outwardly from the gripper N, the valve h will be closed,and when the plate m is released from pressure the valve will bereopened. The bar m is fastened to the upper end 0 of a bar 0 connectedinside of gate-box E to gate E, and when the disk on is moved onwardlyby pressure of the arm M, as hereinbefore set forth, said bar 0 willwithdraw gate E from the tube, and when released from pressure thespring F will force the gate back into the tube, the opening and closingof the valves h and actuation of the gates E being concurrently effectedby pressure on the plate m at outer end of bar m, as described.

The adjacent section-gate E isby same action forced backward into itsincasement, but the preferable means for operating the section-gates ispneumatic force, in manner and form illustrated on Fig. 6 andhereinbefore described.

The piston P, having terminal disk-heads outwardly shaped to fit withinthe inner conformation of the tube A, is caused to travel therethroughby exhaust of air from the tube through pipes H, which at their terminalstation are connected to an exhaust air-pump of well-known character.(-Not shown in the drawings, as no special description of pump isreliedon.)

As soon as the arm M passes onward beyond the section-gate line theplate m is released from pressure and the valve h becomes opened, givingfree conduit for exhaust of air through pipe II and tube A up to thenext closed section-gate.

The main tube A is supplied with one or more manholes a of suitableconstruction for having access to interior of the tube for a purposethat will be readily understood.

Although the annular tube herein described and illustrated is shownprovided with two sectional gates E, more may be employed in accordancewith my invention on such tube when increased force is to be applied.

In the operation of the device with an an nular tube divided into twosections both gates E are projected therein, as illustrated on the Ileft-hand side of Fig. 2, and exhaust of said sections is appliedthrough the air-duct pipes H. \Vithin one of the sections is thediskheaded piston, normally next adjacent to one of the section-gates E,which by force of exhaust of air is carried away therefrom onwardlytoward the other closed section-gate. As it progresses it willconsecutively lift each slot-valve gate and close them by contact of thecolter-arm with the friction'wheels 1 2, and the grip-arm extendingthrough the slot a, being permanently connected to the main gear-wheelC, will turn it and transmit motion to the shaft 13. hen the pistonapproaches the next section-gate IE, it will close the valve of pipe II,as previously described. As soon as the piston passes through theopening of the tube made free by retraction of the respective gate Ewithin its incasement outward pressure is withdrawn from the gate, andit immediately returns within the tube, and the inlet of pipe II beingfree by opening of its valve the exhaust will progress forward of thesection-gate, closed in manner set forth. The piston is drawn 011- wardby exhaust through the next inlet, and as it reaches the nextsection-gate E the same action will be imparted thereto and to the valveof the exhaust-pipe adjacent to said gate, and thus by alternate openingand closing of the tube A the piston will travel continuously andtransmit motive power to the gear with which it is connected and therebyrotate the shaft or actuate any movable elements of machinery.

Having thus fully described my invention and practical operationthereof, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States of America, is-

1. In a device of the character described, gates for dividing the maintube into sections, consisting of an incasement divided into chambersthe forward one being of larger dimensions than the rear one, saidchambers being separated by an air-tight partition, the forward chamberprovided with a reciprocating movable gate having a rearward plate fromthe center of which extends a pistonrod ex tending through stuffing-boxof the partition that divides the chambers of the incasement and thencepasses rearwardly and is connected by a nut-bolt to a disk-head theperiphery of which conforms to the inner surface of the smaller chamber,in combination with branch pipes, having inlets within said chamber, atopposite sides of the disk-head of the piston, the branch pipes beingconnected to a main exhaust-tube, and means for opening and closing saidbranch pipes, whereby as air is exhausted from either surface of thepistonhead disk, the gate connected to the piston will reciprocatewithin the incasement, as and for the purpose intended, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a pneumatic motive device of the character described, a mainslotted tube, a piston adjusted to travel within said main tube, andhaving a grip-arm extending outwardly through the slot of the tubeconnected to gear-wheel of mechanism outside of the tube, said grip -armhaving an upturned branch, to the outer end of which is connected a barfor opening and closing valves of pipes connected to the main tube, saidupturned branch of the grip-arm supplied with bent colter, all incombination with slot-valve gates having ontwardly-extendingfrictionrollers, one above the other, which the colter, as the pistontraverses the main tube, will cause to consecutively open and close saidslot, substantially as described.

3. In a pneumatic motive device of the character described, a tube witha slot extending lengthwise thereof, the tube at one side of said slothaving an outwardly-extending flange, the tube at the opposite side ofthe slot provided with an uprising back plate, in combination withslot-valves adapted to slide in alinement with said back plate and whenactuated to close the slot, and rest upon the tube-flange at side of theslot, said slotvalves being each provided with two friction-rollers, oneabove the other in vertical alinement, and bent colter extending fromgrip-arm of a piston moved within the tube by exhaust of air therefrom,the upturned bent portion of the colter as it progresses, by engagementwith the upper friction-roller extending from the valve-gate liftssaidvalvegate outwardly from the tube-slot and the downwardly-bentportion of the colter when brought into engagement with lowerfrictionroller extending from the valve-gate forces it within thetube-slot and closes it, substantially as described.

LOUIS II. MAYER.

Witnesses:

SAML. H. JACOBSON, FRANK B. MARLow.

